No description available.

Niteobrachis, a new genus in the tribe Brachistini (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Helconinae), is described. The genus is endemic to the New World and contains 24 species, all of which are newly described: amazonicus, attonitus, candeo, carmenae, clarus, delicatus, elegans, fulgeo, gracilis, gustus, ictus, insignis (type species), luceo, lucidus, luisi, lumen, luminosus, luna, mico, nitidus, serenus, splendidus, subtilis and venustus. Keys to the species of Niteobrachis and to the genera of Brachistini are given. Niteobrachis is diagnosed by a combination of characters in the metasoma, including the absence of striations and/or sculpturing on the second and third median tergites with a glossy/smooth appearance; a shallow suture between the second and third median tergites; presence of a crease that separates the second median tergite from the second laterotergite; absence of a crease that separates the third median tergite from the third laterotergite; fused second and third laterotergites; the lateral longitudinal carinae of the first median tergite reaching the articulation between the first and second median tergites; and the first three median tergites covering most of the remainder of the metasoma. The monophyly of Niteobrachis is supported by two synapomorphies: a minute median longitudinal carina of the propodeum, and the lateral longitudinal carinae of the first median tergite reaching the articulation between the first and second median tergites. Recognition of this genus resulted from a phylogenetic analysis of six tribes of Helconinae, including most genera of Brachistini based on a data matrix of 49 characters and 18 terminal taxa. The phylogenetic affinities of the genus are examined, a sister group relationship with Foersteria Szepligeti is hypothesized, and the problematic placement of the subgenera of Eubazus Nees is considered.

Alabagrus is a New World genus of braconid wasps. All Alabagrus are apparently parasitic on leaf rolling and stem boring lepidopterous larvae. Alabagrus is primarily Neotropical with 8 species in the U.S.A. and one species, A. texanus, that reaches southern Ontario and Quebec. / One hundred and eight (108) species are described, keyed and placed in species groups. Eight (8) species have names; most of the remaining 100 species are new to science. Types must be checked in Europe before these species can be named. / Microdus nigrotrochantericus Viereck is synonymized with Bassus imitatus Cresson. A neotype is designated for Bassus sanctus Say. The following new combinations are made: Alabagrus basimaculus (Cameron) from Agathis basimacula, Alabagrus floridanus (Muesebeck) from Bassus floridanus, Alabagrus imitatus (Cresson) from Microdus imitatus, Alabagrus marginatifrons (Muesebeck) from Bassus marginatifrons, Alabagrus sanctus (Say) from Bassus sanctus, Alabagrus simulatrix (Cameron) from Microdus simulatrix, Alabagrus stigmaterus (Cresson) from Microdus stigmaterus, Alabagrus texanus (Cresson) from Microdus texanus.

Copies of author's previously published articles inserted . / Errata slip pasted on back endpaper. / Bibliography : leaves 220-233. / xi, 233, [49] leaves : ill., maps ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Members of the wasp subfamily Cardiochilinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) are endoparasitic in lepidopterous larvae and have proven and potential importance as biocontrol agents of agricultural pests. This thesis examines the taxonomy of species in the Australasian region, and develops a phylogenetic framework for world genera based on cladistic methodology. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Crop Protection, 1996

No description available.

Corrigenda pasted on verso of leaf 267. Bibliography: leaves 239-253. This study focuses on the phylogenetic status of Diolcogaster within the Cotesia-complex. The Cotesia-complex is not resolved as a monophyletic group though most of the included genera are so resolved. Diolcogaster is revised for the Australasian region and recorded for the first time fron New Zealand. A total of 26 species are now known from Australasia.

Corrigenda pasted on verso of leaf 267. / Bibliography: leaves 239-253. / xii, 267 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / This study focuses on the phylogenetic status of Diolcogaster within the Cotesia-complex. The Cotesia-complex is not resolved as a monophyletic group though most of the included genera are so resolved. Diolcogaster is revised for the Australasian region and recorded for the first time fron New Zealand. A total of 26 species are now known from Australasia. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Crop Protection, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resource Sciences, 1997

Many Hymenoptera, with their painful stings and noxious chemical defenses, exhibit bright aposematic warning color patterns and are the most frequently mimicked group of organisms. Such aposematic color patterns are found in parasitic wasps of the Neotropical Compsobracon group (Braconidae). Many members of this group exhibit color patterns similar to several thousand other species of Braconidae, Ichneumonidae, sawflies, assassin bugs, flies, moths, and beetles. One hypothesis to explain this observation is that the members of the complex and their colors are generated by multiple cospeciation events resulting in the constituent genera having isomorphic phylogenetic trees. An alternative hypothesis is that the organisms have colonized existing color pattern niches independently and do not have topologically similar phylogenetic histories. In order to test the hypothesis that these patterns are the result of cospeciation events they will be described and mapped onto a phylogenetic tree. If clades are found to have isomorphic topologies; evidence will suggest cospeciation. However, if clades are not found to have similar topologies, evidence will suggest independent colonization of color pattern niches. / Graduation date: 2006